Steviais a sweetener and sugar substitute extracted from the leaves of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana. The active compounds of stevia are steviol glycosides (mainly stevioside and rebaudioside), which have up to 150 times the sweetness of sugar, are heat-stable, pH-stable, and not fermentable. 

A species called Stevia rebaudiana is naturally grown in Brazil and Paraguay, where it has been used for hundreds of years to sweeten foods and treat burns and stomach discomfort, Live Science reports. The plant gets its sweetness from naturally occurring glycosides.

High Sweetness

The sweet taste of the leaf comes mainly from steviosides, the plant extract can taste 200 times sweeter than the same amount of granulated table sugar.

Zero Calories

It has no carbohydrates, calories, or artificial ingredients. Major U.S. soda companies now sell diet cola soft drinks sweetened with stevia. Some flavored waters also have stevia.

Lower Blood Pressure

Studies have shown that taking stevioside (one of the sweet compounds in stevia) as a supplement can reduce blood pressure.

Help Fight Diabetes

Stevioside appears to improve function of the hormone insulin, helping to lower blood sugar levels. This may be useful for people with type 2 diabetes.